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Well, but you cannot just compare with UK. That's just like comparing Silicon Valley with rest of US. Compare Silicon Valley with London. It's still much worse

Well, but you cannot just compare with UK. That's just like comparing Silicon Valley with rest of US. Compare Silicon Valley with London. It's still much worse in London but engineer salaries in London have been going up lately and it's definitely best place in Europe to be a software engineer. £80-£100k is something you can get in London if you are good at your profession. It's not Silicon Valley obviously (mostly because concept of bonuses and RSUs does not really exist in London compared to SV). But as base salary, it's not bad.

Nursie 9y ago
Oh I agree it's a fine salary, but it is at the higher end (if we disregard contractors (like me)). But the post is about someone two years past graduation! That's the mind-boggling thing to me. Those high-end London salaries are probably people with 10+ years behind them. I could be wrong about that but... I don't think so.
- richardknop 9y ago
  You are right. I am a long time London contractor too but am close to accepting a perm offer :) I have even seen £120k offers for lead engineers but you have to be really talented and have exceptional record behind you. Regarding experience I think 2 years is definitely not enough to reach that salary, you are right it's probably around 10 years of experience. Unless you go contracting and then you can do it even very young. But then again, you get no RSUs, no bonus, no paid vacation or other benefits, have to deal with taxes and admin of your company, can be fired at will, high levels of stress... I think that's a much worse deal than working for one of the FAANGs in Silicon Valley.
  - Nursie 9y ago
    So what finally turned your head? A bit of security? More of a management/architect type role? Or just an obscene amount of money? Because right now I still like the change and flexibility, and my thought towards "what happens next" are more about running my own software house or consultancy (more than a one man band like now)
    - richardknop 9y ago
      I actually got a really good job offer in South East Asia for one of the big unicorns over there so I’m going perm but to a different continent :) If I stayed in London I’d probably keep contracting. But yes I guess it would be good for my career to settle down for 3-4 years in a perm job to get that sort of experience.

Nursie 9y ago

Oh I agree it's a fine salary, but it is at the higher end (if we disregard contractors (like me)). But the post is about someone two years past graduation! That's the mind-boggling thing to me. Those high-end London salaries are probably people with 10+ years behind them. I could be wrong about that but... I don't think so.

richardknop 9y ago
You are right. I am a long time London contractor too but am close to accepting a perm offer :) I have even seen £120k offers for lead engineers but you have to be really talented and have exceptional record behind you. Regarding experience I think 2 years is definitely not enough to reach that salary, you are right it's probably around 10 years of experience. Unless you go contracting and then you can do it even very young. But then again, you get no RSUs, no bonus, no paid vacation or other benefits, have to deal with taxes and admin of your company, can be fired at will, high levels of stress... I think that's a much worse deal than working for one of the FAANGs in Silicon Valley.
- Nursie 9y ago
  So what finally turned your head? A bit of security? More of a management/architect type role? Or just an obscene amount of money? Because right now I still like the change and flexibility, and my thought towards "what happens next" are more about running my own software house or consultancy (more than a one man band like now)
  - richardknop 9y ago
    I actually got a really good job offer in South East Asia for one of the big unicorns over there so I’m going perm but to a different continent :) If I stayed in London I’d probably keep contracting. But yes I guess it would be good for my career to settle down for 3-4 years in a perm job to get that sort of experience.